This poem is dedicated to Mr Paul O'Neil

This poem is dedicated to Mr Paul O'Neil who passed away in the spring of 2006. He was a close personal friend and a well-respected member of our Houselink community. We shall miss him.

P is for Persistent. He was always driven to involve everyone in his energy-conservation drive (reducing consumption of electrical usage through the Houselink community) and left his dream alive.

A stands for Aware, making those around him feel part of something special and happy to join in on the fun, even through tough times. This was what gave him drive.

U means Understanding and Compassion; he was a total friend, stood by you through thick and thin, and tried to lend a helping hand when it was needed.

L would be the Love of a proud parent. His daughter was the apple of his eye, and when she entered the navy it brought him a lot of pride. This in time I would come to realize as I also came from the same military background and he frequently enjoyed sharing in my past history and something I believe he truly needed.

O Ovations are what he longed to hear, as he was a part of a drama group that put on plays each and every year.

N should be for Natural Leader, which is something he loved to be. A leader in our community whether it was being on the social recreation committee, a drop-in operator, or on the Houselink board itself. This chance to stand out and be a shining example within our community was a great feeling he held dear.

E is for enjoying Entertainment of all different sorts: he liked watching movies, fine dining, and going to see a good play. His favorite past-time, though, was watching Toronto's team play sports.

I is for conquering and containing his worst vice of them all, alcohol. He knew this problem had caused him much grief in his life, and he became determined to change, drinking only things that would keep him on the right path. To Paul it became the norm instead of the strange.

L is for leaving a Legacy. He has passed on now; however, for many of us who were close to him, without his presence, it seems kind of rotten. He left a legacy in our Houselink community. A part of him is everywhere, and it will never be forgotten.